Present Simple Grammar Exercise part 1 - ESL worksheet by Santa Fe - Free Printable

Let's solve each exercise step by step and explain the grammar rules involved.

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Exercise A: Write the verbs in the third person singular + / -

We need to conjugate the verbs in the third person singular (he, she, it) form, with either a positive (+) or negative (-) form.

#### Rules:
- For positive forms: add -s or -es to the verb.
- Regular verbs: *read → reads*, *dance → dances*
- Verbs ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -o: add -es (e.g., *watch → watches*)
- Verbs ending in consonant + y: change y to i and add -es (e.g., *study → studies*)
- For negative forms: use doesn't + base verb (no -s)
- *He doesn't think* → correct
- *She doesn't eat* → correct

Now let’s fill in the blanks:

1. +(read) → She reads
2. -(think) → He doesn't think ✔ (already given)
3. +(fly) → It flies
4. -(dance) → He doesn't dance
5. +(work) → She works
6. +(finish) → It finishes
7. +(like) → She likes
8. -(do) → He doesn't do
9. -(watch) → He doesn't watch
10. +(eat) → She eats

✔ Answers for Exercise A:
1. reads
2. doesn't think
3. flies
4. doesn't dance
5. works
6. finishes
7. likes
8. doesn't do
9. doesn't watch
10. eats

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Exercise B: Complete the sentences using the verbs below

Verbs: eat, go, live, play, sleep

Use the correct third person singular form where needed.

1. He plays the piano. ✔ (given)

2. They live in a very big house.
→ "They" is plural → use base form: live

3. You eat a lot of fruit.
→ "You" is second person → use base form: eat

4. She plays tennis.
→ Third person singular → plays

5. He goes to the cinema a lot.
→ Third person singular → goes

6. The baby sleeps eight hours a night.
→ Third person singular → sleeps

✔ Answers for Exercise B:
1. plays
2. live
3. eat
4. plays
5. goes
6. sleeps

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Exercise C: Change the sentences

We are changing subject pronouns and adjusting verb forms accordingly.

Remember:
- First person (I) → change to she, he, they, etc.
- Adjust verb form to match new subject.
- Keep tense consistent.

Let’s go one by one:

1. I do the laundry. → She does the laundry.
→ "I" → "She" → verb becomes does (third person singular)

2. We go to the disco. → He goes to the disco.
→ "We" → "He" → verb becomes goes

3. They have one child. → She has one child.
→ "They" → "She" → verb becomes has

4. She doesn't eat meat. → They don't eat meat.
→ "She" → "They" → plural → use don't instead of doesn't

5. I don't smoke. → He doesn't smoke.
→ "I" → "He" → third person → doesn't smoke

6. The pub closes at 3.00. → The pubs close at 3.00.
→ "The pub" (singular) → "The pubs" (plural) → verb changes from closes to close

7. We don't have a dog. → He doesn't have a dog.
→ "We" → "He" → third person → doesn't have

8. He lives in a flat. → My mother lives in a flat.
→ "He" → "My mother" (third person singular) → lives

✔ Answers for Exercise C:

1. She does the laundry.
2. He goes to the disco.
3. She has one child.
4. They don't eat meat.
5. He doesn't smoke.
6. The pubs close at 3.00.
7. He doesn't have a dog.
8. My mother lives in a flat.

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✔ Final Answers Summary:

#### Exercise A:
1. reads
2. doesn't think
3. flies
4. doesn't dance
5. works
6. finishes
7. likes
8. doesn't do
9. doesn't watch
10. eats

#### Exercise B:
1. plays
2. live
3. eat
4. plays
5. goes
6. sleeps

#### Exercise C:
1. She does the laundry.
2. He goes to the disco.
3. She has one child.
4. They don't eat meat.
5. He doesn't smoke.
6. The pubs close at 3.00.
7. He doesn't have a dog.
8. My mother lives in a flat.

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🔍 Grammar Notes:

- Third person singular: he, she, it → add -s/-es to verbs (except be, have, etc.)
- Negative: use doesn't + base verb (for third person singular)
- Plural subjects: use base verb form (e.g., they live, they eat)
- Subject-verb agreement is crucial — always match the subject and verb!

Let me know if you'd like this as a printable answer key!